In response to the Ms. Shelia Byrd's Associated Press editorial in the Meridian Star, dated February 24, 2009, entitled "Racial Diversity lacking in the Miss. GOP," I would like to answer some of her ascertains.

As a black member of the Mississippi Republican Party I would like to differ with Ms. Byrd's claim the state's republican party some how discriminates against African Americans. This is the continuation of a Democratic Party public relations campaign that has gone on for more than 50 years and needs to be ended. To use the title of Angela McGlowan's book (who happens to be a black woman) Bamboozled, best describes what has happened to African Americans. The very notion that the Democratic Party has the best interests of black people at heart, and not the party of Lincoln, would be comical, if it weren't so tragic. This type of thinking flies in the face of truth and history. It is unbelievable the African American community is still bamboozled to believe it was the democratic party that supported the end of slavery and segregation. If not for the vast majority of republicans in the United State's House and Senate that voted for the civil rights bills of 1963, over the objections of democrats, we would still be under the heel of democratic leaders like Mississippi Senator James Eastland, a man who thought of black people as less then human. The idea that those hateful segregationist like James Eastland, changed parties and became Republicans is just wrong. These race hating democrats went to their graves as Democrats.

On a personal note, when I had the audacity to hope that I could find a platform to express my political opinions, it was the Mississippi Republican Party that opened it's doors to me, a stranger. As a stranger I walked into the Yazoo Street, Jackson Mississippi Republican State Party offices. I was warmly received as a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District. The only thing I kept hearing from my new republican friends was; where have you been? Now I did not expect money from this party but rather a place where I could cut my teeth. But I got much more then tokenism. I was given a place at the big table, where I could prove myself as an equal, and somewhere in the 26 county races I became a player. I was surprised when I received a call from Governor Haley Barbour's office asking me if I would accept being a Alternate Delegate at the Republican National Convention, in Minneapolis Minnesota. Remember, just 9 months before, I was a walk on into to the state party offices. And to continue, after my race for congress I was strongly advised to think about running for mayor of the City of Meridian by republicans against a republican incumbent. So much for not being welcomed into the party.

During these 15 months, I never experienced the first sign of not being welcomed. Not on the campaign trail for congress, or at the national convention, or now during the mayoral race. The only thing I keep hearing is, where have you been and are there more like you? We want them back into the party of Abraham Lincoln. By the way, I have received a few donations from my republican supporters and hope to receive more.



Bill Marcy

Meridian